Loading and unloading appliance for stock-cars.



PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. J. RAY.

LOADING AND UNLOADING APPLIANCE FOR STOCK CARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1905.

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No. 799,868. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

. W. J. RAY. LOADING AND UNLOADINGLAPBLIANE FOR STOCK GARS.

PPLIGAQIOH Hum Ann. a. um.

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f1@ @Mzf PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. J. RAY. LOADING AND UNLOADING APILIANCE FOR STOCK CARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1905.

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WILLIAM J. RAY, CF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 3,1905. Serial. No. 253,683.

To @ZZ whom, t 171 ay concern,.- v

Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im provements inLoading and Unloading Appliances for Stock-Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has to do with the loading and unloading' of stock-cars, and is designed more particularly for use in connection with double-decked cars, such as are commonly used for the transportation of hogs and sheep.

Heretofore it has been the practice in loading and unloading such cars to employ a portable gangway or inclined plane, which is adjusted tothe different decks of the car. This, however, has proved to be quite unsatisfactory, not only because of the inconvenience attending its use and the amount of labor necessarily employed in connection therewith, but also because it was necessary to make, separate provision for guarding the lower portion of the car-door to prevent the escape of animals therethrough while those on the upper deck were being loaded or unloaded. s

The object of my invention is to avoid the objections incident to the older practice; andto this end it consists in providing a verti cally movable gangway, which in its perfected form is hinged or otherwise pivotally connected at one end, so that the other end may be raised or lowered as may be necessary to register with the upper or lower deck of the car, and in providing such gangway with suitable counterbalance mechanism so placed as not to interfere with the use of the gangway and operating to neutralize the weight of the gangway, so that it may readily be adjusted to different positions. v

In the best embodiment of my invention the counterbalance mechanism is placed under the gangway, so that it is protected by the gangway and at the same time is out of the way.

A further feature of my invention consists in providing means for automatically closing or obstructing the passage-way to thev lower deck when the gangway is employed in connection with the upper deck, so that the escape of animals from the lower section of the car while the upper section is being loaded or unloaded is prevented.

Further features are the provision of aprons or extensions to bridge the space between the gangway and the decks of the car and between the usual platform and the lower deck of the car and of guides or gates which may be used in connection with the`gangway when in either of its positions for directing the animals to or from the car.

My invention also consists in combining a rising and falling gangway with a platform extending longitudinally of a railway-track and arranged in combination with swinging or otherwise movable gates, so that the gangway may be employed for loading or unloading purposes when desired and when not in use may sink to the level of the platform and form a part thereof, so that it does not interfere with the use of the platform in the ordinary way, except when being used as a means of loading or unloading cars.

In addition to the foregoing generic features my invention also comprises certain features of construction, which will be hereinafter particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views, illustrating the use of my improved apparatus in connection with the two decks of a railway-car. Fig. Sis a general plan view. Fig. t is a detaiLbeinga plan view, showing the gangway in operative position with some parts broken away. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the construction shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an end View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 looking to the right.

Referring to the drawings, 7 indicates a platform, which extends longitudinally of a railway-track 8 and is adjacent thereto.

9 l0 indicate stock-pens, which communicate with said platform through a chute l1, having an inclined floor 12, leading to the platform 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

13 indicates a gate by which either of the pens 9 10 may be connected with said chute 11.

1L1 15 indicate gates which are about as long as the platform 7 is wide and are adapted to swing across said platform or over against the fences 1,6 17 which separate said platform from the pens 9 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the gates 14 15 are hinged at opposite sides of the chute 11, so that they, in effect, form continuations of the side fences 18 19, which form the sides of the chute. Either of said gates 14 15 may be swung across the opening of the chute, the other being then swung back against a longitudinal fence. By this means the chute may be closed, as is sometimes necessary when cattle are being driven along the platform 7.

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The gates 14 15 are each provided with I pose in the edge of the platform 7. When,

braces 20, which are hinged at their inner ends to the free end portions of the gates and are adapted to be swung down into engagement with the platform 7 or to be thrown back parallel with their respective gates. rIhe free ends of the braces 20 are sharpened, so that they are adapted to penetrate the platform and lock the gates in position. When not in use, said braces are thrown back against the gates and are supported by hooks or other suitable means. If desired, slide-bolts 21 may also be provided, said bolts being movable vertically to engage or disengage suitable sockets in the platform 7, as indicated in Fig. 3.

22 indicates a cattle-car, of which 23 24 are 'the lower and upper decks, respectively.

25 indicates one of the door-openings.

26 indicates the rising and falling gangway, which, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is hinged at 27 to an extension 28 of the inclined fioor 12 or is otherwise suitably hinged at its inner end, so that its outer end is free to rise and fall. The gangway 26 is made of any suitable material and is set into the iioor of the platform 7, so that when in its lowermost position it is iiush therewith, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When in its lowermost position, the gangway 26 rests upon cross-beams 28, which carry the floor of the platform, or it is otherwise suitably supported.

29 indicates the usual cleats, which extend transversely of the gangway.

30 indicates a rocking lever which is pivoted at 3l upon a suitable support 32, arranged under the platform and preferably extending up to and engaging the timbers of the platform, as shown in Fig. 5, so that not only it itself is braced, but it serves to further brace the platform. The lever 30 extends longitudinally of the gangway and is placed, preferably, centrally thereunder. At one end it is provided with a connecting rod or bar 33, pivotally connected at its lower end with said lever and at its upper end with the gangway, as shown in Fig. 5.V At its opposite end the lever 30 carries a weight 34 sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the gangway. By this construction the weight of thegangway is at all times balanced, so that it may be raised or lowered with slight expenditure of power.

35 indicates an apron hinged at 36 to the outer edge of the gangway and adapted to fall over upon the sill of the upper or lower decks of the car, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When not in use, said apron may be folded over upon the gangway.

37 indicates a gate or guard which is pivotally connected at itsv upper end with the under side of the gangway 26 near the outer end thereof and extends transversely thereof, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Then the gangway is in its lowermost position, the gate 37 lies in a suitable recess provided for that purhowever, the gangway is raised to connect with the upper deck of the car, the gate 37, or rather the side bars 38 thereof, rests upon one of the timbers 40 of the platform, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby supporting the gangway and at the same time guarding the lower portion of the car-doorway, so as to prevent the escape of animals therethrough. The gate 37 is so connected with the gangway that when the gangway is Araised said gate swings normally into position over one of the timbers 40, and consequently vit acts to automatically lock the gang'way in its uppermost position. When the gangway is to be lowered, the gate 37 is moved over its recess.

In order to bridge the space between the platform and the lower deck of the car when the gangway is in its uppermost position, the gate 37 is provided with an apron 41, hinged at its lower or inner edge to the lower portion of the gate, as shown at 42 in Figs. 5 and 6. When the gangway is in its lowermost position, the apron 41 is parallel with the gate 37, being folded over thereupon, as shown in Fig. 5. ing` outward by a dependingI flange 43, connected with the platform, as shown in Fig. 5. When, however, the gangway is raised, the apron 4] falls naturally outward, bridging the space between the edge of the platform and the lower deck, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In practice the upper deck of a car is usually unloaded first, and to that end the parts are then arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the gangway being' moved to its uppermost position, with the gates 14 15 extending transversely of the platform 7, at opposite sides thereof. At this time the gate 37 is elevated to close the lower portion of the car-doorway, and the apron 41 is in its horizontal position, bridging the space between the platform 7 and the lower deck of the car. The animals may then be discharged over the gangway. When the upper deck has been unloaded, the gangway is depressed to bring it to the level of the lower deck, the gate 37 and apron 41 moving down through the platform, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having now described in detail the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the specific details of the construction shown and described, except in so far as they are particularly claimed, as my invention includes generically the subject-matter of the broader claims.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-H 1 An apparatus of the class described, comprising astationary platform, and averticallymovable gangway arranged when in its lower position to lie substantially flush with said platform.

It is prevented from fall- IOO 2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a stationary platform, a verticallymovablel gangway arranged when in its lower position to lie substantially Hush with said platform, and counterbalance mechanism for said gangway.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a stationary platform, and averticall ymovable gangway hinged at one end and arranged when in its lower position to liesubstantially flush with said platform.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a stationaryplatform, a verticallymovable gangway hinged at one end and arranged when in its lower position to lie substantially Hush with said platform, and means near the free end of said gangway adapted to engage said platform for supporting the gangway when in its elevated position.

5. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a stationary platform, a verticallymovable gangway hinged at one end and arranged when in its lower position to lie substantially flush with said platform, and a swinging support connected to the gangway near its free end and adapted to engage said platform for supporting the gangway when in its elevated position.

6. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a vertically-movable gangway, and means below said gangway for guarding the lower portion of a car-doorway.

7. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a vertically-movable gangway, and a vertically-movable gate below said gangway for guarding the lower portion of a car-door- Way.

8. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a vertically-movable gangway, and a vertically-movable gate below said gangway and moving therewith for guarding thelower portion of a car-doorway.

9. An apparatus of the class described, comi prising a vertically-movable gangway, and a vertically-movable gate pivotally suspended from said gangway for guarding the lower,A

portion of a car-doorway.

10. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a stationary platform a verticallymovable gangway arranged when in its lower position to lie substantially flush with said platform, guards at the sides of said gangway, counterbalance mechanism therefor, and means for automatically locking said gangway in its elevated position.

11. An apparatus of the class described,

lateral guides on said platform at the sides of said gangway.

14. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a platform, a vertically-movable gangway arranged transversely thereof, and swinging gates at the sides of said gangway, said gates being adapted to swing back so as to extend longitudinally of said platform.

15. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising a platform, a vertically-movableA gangway hinged at one end and adapted to lie in substantially the same plane as said platform and to be raised to angular position relatively thereto, and swinging gates at opposite sides of said gangway adapted to be arranged longitudinally or transversely of said platform. Y

16. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a vertically movable gangway hinged at one end, counterbalance mechanism therefor, a support for the free end of said gangway, and a folding apron carried by said support, said apron being` adapted to fold parallel with said support or to be turned down into a substantially horizontal position.

17. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a vertically movable gangway hinged at one end, counterbalance mechanism therefor, and a folding apron at the free end of said gangway.

18. An` apparatus of the class described, comprising a platform, a rising and falling gangway pivotally connected lwith said platform and adapted when lowered to lie substantially iush therewith, and counterbalance mechanism for said gangway.

WILLIAM J. RAY.

Witnesses:

ORvIs T. HENKLE, MELVILLE F. HORINE.

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